Pork-skinning machine



y w. H. O'CONNOR 1.714.886

PORK SKINNING MACHINE Filed NOV- 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l E a 2f I gwuantoz Gummy May 28, 1929. w, H NNOR 1,714,886

PORK SKINNING MACHINE Filed NOV 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 77 Z) A I] Patented Nlay 28, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca.

WELIAM H. OCONNOB, OF NEWARK,NEW

roax-sxrnnmc nacnma.

Application and November 14, 1925." Serial No. cause.

This invention relates to skinning machines, and more particularly to pork skinning machines.

An object of the invention s to provide-a machine for removing the skin from pork without injury to the skin. Y 4 Another object of the invention 15 to provide a machine having. an endless traveling feed mechanism cooperating with a stationary knife Orblade. 0 Anothen object 01? the invention 1s to pro-- vide a pork skinning machine having an endless traveling feed mechanism so'constructed und arranged as to provide a table for the product toIbe-op'erated upon,-and to equip such feed mechanism with means for firmly supporting the product while under treatment against displacement or movement.

Yet another ob'ect of the invention is to provide a pork .s inning machinewlth an ,cndlcss traveling LIeed mechanism so'con- Y structed and arranged as to support theprodnot under treatment in .a'fixe position on a flat surface, inorder that the severing knife or blade may be adjusted to operate in close [proximity to thefeed mechanism. I

A further-objectof my invention is to provide a machine with an endless traveling feed niechanisi'n designed to' support and to sustain against displacementthe product to be :mruted upon,-and to provide a firm opera.

ingobase" free from vibration designed td cooperate .with .1 severing blade. The constructionis suchas to allow adjustment of the bl'ade to a nicety withoutdanger'of coming in contact with the feed mechanism durin v the o eration of the-machine.

provide an endless travelingfeed mechanism,

comprisingparallel belts'npon which are transversely mountedbars in close relation,

the bars being provided upon their adjacent faces with means fore'ngaging the product tated both as regards to parts and their may be incidenttqmy improvements, the into be operated u on.

y A still further object of my invention is to providea skinning machine which is {highly eilicient and positivein operation, yet

of such marked simplicity as a whole and in respect to each of its component parts, that its manufacture can be economically-facilias sembly, f

'- With these and other objects inview, which vent-ion consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed;

ct a arther object of this invention is to with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportion and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make-my invention more clearl 1y understood, I have shown in the accom-- panying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, withoutlimiting theimprovements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration. In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with a feed tableattached;

complete Fig. 2 is an end elevation'with the shearing blade and its supporting brackets removed;

' Fig. 3 is a detail view .in side elevation, il-

lustrating the conveyor, the manner ofv ping pins;

Fig. lis top plan view of one of the transversebars;"

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the severing blade and its mountings; Fig. 6 is a detail view in'pers ective of one link of the conveyor chain; an

Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating a. modified form of one of the transverse bars.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, 1 represents. a rectangular frame comprising corresponding. side sections cast in one piece mounting the transverse barsand the grip.

with vertical corner sections 2 connected at the top by a horizontal section 3. The corner sections 2 and the horizontalsectionsfi are .connected and braced by an arcuate plate 4 bars 10 mounted between the corner sections and bolted thereto, as shown at 11, also a central cross-bar 12 bolted through the web 5.

It is; of course, to be understood-thatany of cross bracing may be employed .which ill not interfere with the operative parts of themachine, and yet will impart strength and rigidity to the frame.

are

registering apertures and Mounted upon the-respective ends ofthe frame, in suitable journals l3 bolted to the flanges 7 on the corner sections 2, are corresponding transverse parallel shafts 14. Keyed upon the shafts 14 near each corner of the frame is a sprocket 15. The sprockets 15 on one of the shafts l t-are. in perfect alignment with the corresponding sprockets 15 on the other shaft. The sprockets 15 are connected by corresponding-parallel link chains or belts 16, of apartic-ular design, tohe hereinafter described. .The belts 16 travel through channeled guides 17 bolted to the cross-bars 10. f 1

One of the shafts 14; is provided with a sprocket pulley'l8 connected by a bolt 19 to a driving mechanism mounted upon the top of the frame, :The'driving mechanism may'be otherwise placed and connected, or. varied according tothe fancy of the producer or manufacturer..

The chain belts 16 hereinabove referred to are each composed of a lurality of U-shaped links 20. The heads 0' the links are trans v'ersely'bored, as shown at 21, andthe free ends of their arms or legs are provided with registering a. ertures 22. The head of each link is fitted etween the legs of the preeedf ing link, with the bore in theh'ea'd registering with theapertures inthe legs. -Bolts"23, or other fastening means, are passed through bore so as toproduce a fiexibleendless belt. i.

The le s of the U.-shaped links areprovid-I edwith' anges 24 at right- -angl'esto the leg portion of the link and. oppositely disposed. with respect to each other. The fianges 24 provided with apertures 25 for the r eception of bolts26, by means'ofvvhich bars 27 are secured upon'the belts. The bars 27-- are mounted transverselyupon'thebelts 1 6 in .parallel relation .to eachother. Plates are mounted upon the bars 27 by studs F29,

-' The plates 28am wider than the bars 27 and are provided \vithpdownwardly extending beveled flanges 30, the object of which. vvil hereinafterappear.

As'the belts 16 passfthrough the guidef ways 17, theen'ds of the plates 28 abut guide.

- lates. 31 bolted to-. the sides-of the frame.

he guide plates 31 are provide'dwith flanges 32, the bottom faces of which are on a line with the top of the frame. The flanges 32 project over the ends of the plates 28, 'as clearly shown in Figure 2. The top surface of the plates 28 are thus on a line with the top 9f the frame. It will be seen that by reason of the particular mounting ofthe bars-27,-the plates 28 carried thereby, and the arrangement of the guideways 17 provided for the belts 16, all possibility of twisting or buckling, and all vibration, is reduced to a mini- -1,714;ase

-muin, thus insuring a smooth operation -of 'themadune.

The transverse bars 27, which are bolted to the links 20 of the belts 16, are each pro vided with a plurality of recesses 33. Mount-- sleeves or' collars 35 and the bar 27. The

free ends of the phni'gcrs 34 pass through.

apertures'37 in one of the beveled llanges30 of the plate 28. vThe plun'gcrs 34- are retainedin the recesses 33, and limited in-tlmir outward movement by the sleeves or collars 35 bcaringa ainstthe inside of'the beveled -flange 3O. ,-'1 he opposite beveled flange 30 on the plate 28 is'-provided \vith'aplurality of pins 38,arrangcd in an alternating position with respect to the plungers34. The bevel of the flanges 30 allows the material under treatment to more readilyeonform'to'the eonveyor.

In Figure. 7 I have 'shownaniodification of the transverse bar 27 wherein th'e bar is reduced to its utmostesimplieity In this modified form, the bar 27..consist's of :1 rectangular strip provided-with apertures for the reception 'of the bolts 26 by means of.

perside edges, and the side having the curved edge is-provided .with a plurality of pins 38.

The vpins'38 aremade re 'novable for replacenicnt-andrepairs; The pins 38 engage and embed themselves in the skin.- This action is assisted byt-heiside of the-adjacent greatly bar with which the pins contact when the bars,

--are in a. horizontal position on the top of'.

the conveyor. Therounded edge of the bar ellows. the materialunder treatment to more :readily conform to the conveyor.

- and the plates 28 seeuredin position with the plungers 34 in place, the ad] acentfianges 30 I uponthe plates 28 are in'spaced relation, with the free ends of'th'e' plungers 351. projectingthrough the fiangepnone plate and bearing against the flange onthe' adjacentplate. The position .is -ma1ntained throughout ex- 'I cept ateach end of the frame' where the belt At thae points,

passes overthe sprockets.

owin -to thesemi-eircuIar-path of travel, he plates nove apart, as nost clearly shown in Figure 3., Accordingly, at'the forward end of the frame there; is provided a, feed table 39 supported by corresponding and 0 positely disposed brackets 40 bolted to the dan es? of the corner sections 2."

\Vhen the bars 27 are" bolted to thebelts 16 tions 3 are corresponding and oppositely disthe apertures in one bracket registering with 125, Lfbuntedupon the-flanges 6 of the top seei the apertures in the other. Adjustahly nioii'ntedfin registering apertures 42 are links 43 which-are pivotally connected to arms 44 integral with tl e plat s 45. The plates 45 are connected byl an n landing cros -bar 46.

. The plates 45 are adapted to receive and support a blade 47 which is se ured to the plates 45 by bolts 48. The set of the blade 47 is made adjustable by means of set screws 49 mounted in the plates 45 and provided with lock nuts 50. V v

In setting the blade 47 by means'of the set screws 49, the' blade is adjusted at an angle to the conveyor. V hen the blade. comes in contact witha slab of pork 'n-poilthe conveyor, the blade imparts a downward thrust which, together with the tension of the skin by which the slab of pork is held, causes the slab to straighten out and the skin and meat or fat to separate on their natural dividing line. The thickness of the skin varies, and in order to take care of this variation, the blade is mounted on the brackets 41 by li ks 43 which, permit of a rise and fall of the bl dc according to the varying thickness of the skin.

' The fall or downward motion of the blade is limited by the set screws 49 which engage the top of the frame. Since the meat'or fat is very thick in comparison with the skin, there is a tendency, as the bla le is brought into operation, for the slab to rise over the blade. This tendency is overcome by the flexible mounting of the blade which causes an automatic adjustment thereof. I V

In operation, a slab of pork is placed upon the table'39 with the skin. side down. The slab of pork is then shoved forward until its forward end projects over the edge of the table between the beveled flanges 30 of the adjacent plates 28. In this position, the forward end'of the skin on the slab is caught by the pins 38. arcuate travel of the conveyor at this point. By means of the pins 38, the slab is held suff ficiently tight to be readily drawn on the con- .veyor. As the plates 28, between which the skin is caught, assume a position in line with the top of the conveyor, the spring actuated plungers 34 are brought into action, and securely clamp the skin upon the flange oppo site the plnngers, the\ plungers engaging the skin intermediate the pins. Where the solid bar is used, the pins 38, after engaging the material under treatment, are embedded in the same by the pressure exerted by the ad jacent bar.

A slab of pork so fed to the conveyor is firmly held in position, and since the to of the conveyor passes between guides WllCl'l prevent any vertical or side action, in short any vibration, it necessarily follows that the pork is brought in contact with the blade under the most-favorable conditions. The set of the blade is adjusted according tothe thickness of the skin, and as the conveyor This is made possible by the travels beneath the. blade, the skin is severed from the meatfthe skin passin beneath the blade as the meat asses over t e top of the blade. The flexib eflmounting of the blade allows the blade to rise and fall automatical 7o ly, according to the varying thickness'of the skin. The skin and meat are separated on the natural dividing line, and remain upon the conveyor until they reach the far end of the machine where the grip upon the skin is released and both the meat and skin drop from the machine into suitable receptacles.

While I have shown and described the pre ferred embodiment of m invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the recise details of construction herein set fort i, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many chan es and variations may be made therein, b t ose skilled in the art, without departing f i'om the spirit of the 8 invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the various feature's- V of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 00

1. A skinning machine comprising a feeding means, a blade mounted transversely with respect to the feedin meansfsu porting members for the ends 0 the blade, 9. ar con-- necting the supporting members, and a linkage for mounting the supporting members;

24A skinning machine comprising a conveyor, a bracket upon each si e of the conveyor, a blade, a linkage connection between the brackets and the blade, and means for adjusting the set of the blade.

3. A skinning machine comprising a con: veyor, an arcuate bracket mounted upon each side of the conveyor, the brackets being oppositely disposed with respect to eaehiothe'r, registering apertures in the bl'fieketgigotres ndingplates connected by an upstapding -shaped bar, a linkage connection between the plates and the apertured brackets, a blade mounted 'upon the lates,. nd means-for adjusting the set of t e blade.

4. .A skinning machine-comprisinga conveyor, oppositely disposed brackets mounted upon the respective sides of the conveyor, re istering apertures in the brackets, corresponding plates each having anupstanding boss,

a U-shaped upstanding rod connecting the bosses, an arm carried by each boss, toggle connection betweeii the arms and the apertured brackets, a blade detachably mounted upon the plates, and means for ad ustingthe set of the blade.

5. A skinning machine comprising a frame,

a conveyor mounted upon the frame, guideways for supporting 'thecconveyor in a,horizoptal position, and 'guideways for preventing vertical and side movement of the conveyor, and a transversely disposed floating blade. 1

6. A skinning machine comprising a frame,

sprockets journale'd at the respective ends of the frame, a conveyor mounted upon the sprockets, means-for imparting motion to the conveyor, longitudinal 'guideways cooperat ing with the top and bottom or the conveyor to sustainthe; same against vibration, and a fioati'n-g' blade transversely disposed with re spect to the top of the conveyor.- w

7. A skinning'machine'comp'rising nflfraine, sprockets mounted upon'the respeotiiree'nds.

of the frame, a conveyor mounteduporr the sprockets, channeled guides through which the conveyor travels,- means engaging the edges of tlie conveyor for supporting the same against vertical and side motion, and a floating blade transversely disposed with re-- spect to the .con'veyor,

8. A sl' nmng mael ne comprising a conveyor having a plurality of transverse bars,.

and a plurality-of-pins in each bar normally contacting with the adjacent :bar.

t). A skinning machine comprising-a con? veyor having a plurality of parallel bars in spaced relation to each other,.an-upper side .edge of each bar being curved, a plurality of pins mounted upon one side of each bar, the plus being -mounted 1n the side'having the curved edge, and the pins in one bar nornial l y contacting with the adjacent bar.

. 10. .A skinning machine comprising a conveyor, having aplurality of parallel bars in spaced relation to each other, a plurality of pins upon one side otthe bar, and aplurality of plungers upon the other side of the bar.

11. A skinning machine comprisinga conveyor having a plurality of parallel bars, a

plurality of pins mou'nted'upon one side of each bar, aplurality of spring actuated plungcrs inountcd'in the other sideof each bar, the pins mounted lltOtlO bar contacting with the adjacent bar, and the plungers mounQ'iLin one bar contacting with the adjaccnt 'it vis mounted, spring actuated plungers mounted in the registering aperturesvand recess s, and pins upon the other flange of each plate.

- 14.- A skinning machine comprising correspending link belts, parallel bars mounted upon. the links, a plurality of recesses in each,

bar,1)latesmoun ted upon the bars, downwardly projecting flanges on the side edges of the plates, apertures in one of the flanges of each plate registering" with the recess mthe bar upon which the plate is mounted, plunger-s mounted in the registering apertures and reeesses,spring mounted upon the plungers be tween the bars and the tlangesgand pins upon the oppositely disposed flange of each plate.

15. A skinning machine comprising corresponding link belts, parallel bars mounted upo'n-eaeh of the links, a plurality of recesses in each of the bars, a plate mounted upon each bar, the plate having downwardly projecting beveled flanges, apertures in'one of the beveled flanges, the apertures registering with the rec es in the-bar, the other flange having a plurality of pins, plungers mounted in the registering apertures and recesses, a collar upon each plunger, and a spiral-spring mounted upon eaclr plunger between the collar and the bar. I

16. A shinning machine comprising-a epnveyor having belts formed'of a plurality of corresponding links, parallel bars mounted upon the links, a plurality of'recesses in the bars, plates'mounted upon the top of the bars, downwardly projecting beveled flanges updn the side of the plates, thejlangcs on one side of the plates having a plurality of apertures re lstering with the recesses int-he bars, the

ll ange upon the opposite side-ot the plate having a plurality of pins, plungcrs mounted in the registering apertures and'recesses, collars, upon the plungers, and springs mounted upon the plunger-s intermediate the collars and 4th! bars. 7

'17. A skinning machine eoniprisinga'conveyor having a plurality of parallel bars in spaced relation with respect to each other, a plurality of pins mounted upon one side of each bar, a plurality of spring actuated ph-mgers mounted in the other side of each bar, the pins on one bar alternating with the plunger-s on the adjacent bar.

19. A skinning machine comprising a feedin means, a blade mounted transversely with respect to the feeding means and means to.

floatably mount the blade over the feeding means.

1!). A skinning machine comprising a feeding means, a blade transversely disposed with respect to the feeding means, means to floatably mount the blade ovcr the feeding meansand" adjustable stops to l'imit'the movement of the blade in the direction ofthe skinl In testimony whereofl affix my signature. W LIAM H. OCONNOB. 

